{"id":"F2021L00743","name":"Radiocommunications (Issuing of Certificates and Charging of Fees) Rules 2021","slug":"radiocommunications-issuing-of-certificates-and-charging-of-fees-rules-2021","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":440882,"registerId":"F2021L00743-fast-fetch-1775956350956","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Radiocommunications (Issuing of Certificates and Charging of Fees) Rules 2021","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 20.2\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nRadiocommunications (Issuing of Certificates and Charging of Fees) Rules 2021\n\n \n\nI, Paul Fletcher, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts make the following rules under section 313B of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.\n\nDated: 1 June 2021\n\nPaul Fletcher\n\nMinister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n[Part 1—Preliminary](#_Toc70953776)\n\n[1 Name](#_Toc70953777)\n\n[2 Commencement](#_Toc70953778)\n\n[3 Authority](#_Toc70953779)\n\n[4 Definitions](#_Toc70953780)\n\n[5 References to other instruments](#_Toc70953781)\n\n[Part 2—Powers of Accredited Persons](#_Toc70953782)\n\n[6 Power to issue certificates](#_Toc70953783)\n\n[7 Power to charge fees......................................................5](#_Toc70953785)\n\n# Part 1—Preliminary\n\n1  Name\n\n  These are the Radiocommunications (Issuing of Certificates and Charging of Fees) Rules 2021.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences on the later of the following:\n\n(a)    the commencement of Schedule 5 to the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020;\n\n(b)    the day after the Radiocommunications Accreditation (General) Rules 2021 is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation; and\n\n(c)    the day after this instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.\n\nNote: The Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020 is available from the Federal Register of Legislation. The Federal Register of Legislation may be accessed free of charge at [www.legislation.gov.au](http://www.legislation.gov.au).\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under section 313B of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.\n\n4  Definitions\n\n  In this instrument:\n\naccredited person means a person who holds either:\n\n (a) a General Licensing Accreditation; or\n\n (b) a Specific Licensing Accreditation.\n\nAct means the Radiocommunications Act 1992.\n\nfrequency assignment certificate:\n\n (a) in relation to a spectrum licence – means a certificate issued:\n\n (i) under procedures determined under subsection 60(1) of the Act; and\n\n (ii) for the purpose set out in subsection 60(7A) of the Act;\n\n (b) in relation to an apparatus licence – means a certificate mentioned in subsection 100(4A) of the Act.\n\nGeneral Licensing Accreditation means the kind of accreditation specified in paragraph 7(1)(a) of the Radiocommunications Accreditation (General) Rules 2021.\n\ninterference impact certificate means a certificate mentioned in subsection 145(3) of the Act.\n\nSpecific Licensing Accreditation means the kind of accreditation specified in paragraph 7(1)(b) of the Radiocommunications Accreditation (General) Rules 2021.\n\nspecified type of licence means the single type of transmitter or receiver licences specified in the instrument of accreditation given to a person, in accordance with subsection 7(2) of the Radiocommunications Accreditation (General) Rules 2021.\n\nNote:  A number of other expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following:\n\n(a) certificate;\n\n(b) interference;\n\n(c) radiocommunication;\n\n(d) radiocommunications device;\n\n(e) radiocommunications transmitter;\n\n(f) spectrum.\n\n5  References to other instruments\n\n  In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears:\n\n (a) a reference to any other legislative instrument is a reference to that other legislative instrument as in force from time to time; and\n\n (b) a reference to any other kind of instrument or writing is a reference to that other instrument or writing as in force or existing from time to time.\n\nNote 1: For references to Commonwealth Acts, see section 10 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; and see also subsection 13(1) of the Legislation Act 2003 for the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to legislative instruments.\n\nNote 2: All Commonwealth Acts and legislative instruments are registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.\n\nNote 3: See section 314A of the Act.\n\n\n\n\n# Part 2—Powers of Accredited Persons\n\n6  Power to issue certificates\n\n(1)  A person who holds a General Licensing Accreditation may issue any of the following:\n\n(a)    a frequency assignment certificate mentioned in subsection 60(7A) of the Act;\n\n(b)    a frequency assignment certificate mentioned in subsection 100(4A) of the Act;\n\n(c)    an interference impact certificate mentioned in subsection 145(3) of the Act.  \n\n(2)  A person who holds a Specific Licensing Accreditation may issue a frequency assignment certificate mentioned in subsection 100(4A) of the Act for a specified type of licence to which the Specified Licensing Accreditation relates.\n\n(3)  Subsection (2) does not limit subsection (1).  \n\n7  Power to charge fees\n\n(1)  A person who holds a General Licensing Accreditation may charge a fee for any of the following:\n\n(a)    issuing a frequency assignment certificate mentioned in subsection 100(4A) of the Act;\n\n(b)    issuing an interference impact certificate mentioned in subsection 145(3) of the Act.\n\n(2)  A person who holds a Specific Licensing Accreditation may charge a fee for issuing a frequency assignment certificate mentioned in  subsection 100(4A) of the Act for a specified type of licence to which the Specified Licensing Accreditation relates.\n\n \n\nNote: Any fee charged under section 7 must not be such as to amount to taxation.\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument confines and delegates powers under section 313B of the Radiocommunications Act to accredited persons; it does not on its face expand or narrow those statutory powers beyond specifying which accredited categories may issue particular certificates and charge fees (see ss.4, 6–7). The text contains no express statement that changes the original statutory scope."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to multiple provisions of the Radiocommunications Act (frequency assignment: s.60(7A), apparatus licence: s.100(4A); interference impact: s.145(3)) increase interpretive linking (see s.6).","Dependence on an external instrument for accreditation types and scope (Radiocommunications Accreditation (General) Rules 2021), which defines 'General' and 'Specific' accreditations and 'specified type of licence' (see s.4).","Differentiation of powers and fee-authority between General Licensing Accreditation and Specific Licensing Accreditation creates conditional scope (see ss.6(1)–(2), 7(1)–(2)).","Commencement hinges on the timing of three linked events/instruments, creating coordination risk for implementation (see s.2).","A statutory constraint on fees—must not amount to taxation—adds a legal limit but leaves measurement and enforcement questions (see note to s.7).","Reliance on delegated private actors (accredited persons) to make regulatory decisions concentrates discretion outside the agency and raises compliance and oversight considerations (see ss.6–7)."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument lets accredited persons issue specific radiocommunications certificates—frequency assignment certificates (for spectrum or apparatus licences) and interference impact certificates—and allows them to charge fees for some of those certificates. It applies to holders of General Licensing Accreditation and, more narrowly, to holders of Specific Licensing Accreditation limited to specified licence types. Licence-holders or applicants pay the fees; accredited persons decide on issuing the certificates and setting charges within the legal constraints (see ss.6–7)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose of enabling accredited persons to issue certificates and charge fees. It has not expanded beyond this narrow administrative function."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument — only 7 sections across 2 Parts","Minimal defined terms (only 6 definitions in section 4, plus incorporated terms from the parent Act)","Simple conditional structure — subsections (1) and (2) in each operative section create parallel rules for General vs Specific accreditation, with a non-limiting clause in section 6(3)","Heavy reliance on external references — definitions and powers depend on the Radiocommunications Act 1992 and the Radiocommunications Accreditation (General) Rules 2021, but these are straightforward incorporations","No exceptions, exemptions, or nested conditions","Single operative concept: who can issue what certificates and charge what fees"],"plain_english_summary":"This law authorises government‑accredited technical specialists to issue two official certificates—frequency assignment and interference impact—and to charge service fees for them. It applies to accredited persons (with general or licence‑specific accreditation) and to businesses or individuals seeking spectrum or apparatus licences who need these certificates. By delegating a technical role previously held by the regulator (ACMA) to qualified private experts, it aims to speed up licensing while keeping fees limited to the service provided."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-issuing-of-certificates-and-charging-of-fees-rules-2021","history":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-issuing-of-certificates-and-charging-of-fees-rules-2021/history","analysis":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-issuing-of-certificates-and-charging-of-fees-rules-2021/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-issuing-of-certificates-and-charging-of-fees-rules-2021/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-issuing-of-certificates-and-charging-of-fees-rules-2021/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-issuing-of-certificates-and-charging-of-fees-rules-2021/documents"}}